Rick Moran, writing in Rightwing Nuthouse, takes on the left wing’s fighting keyboardists, comparing them to the chickenhawks of the right.
The netnuts are fond of calling those of us who support the mission in Iraq chickenhawks. What do you call someone who sits on their ass in front of a keyboard, railing against the President, claiming that the United States is falling into a dictatorship, and writing about how awful this war is and yet refuses to practice the kinds of civil disobedience that their fathers and mothers used to actually bring the Viet Nam war to an end?
I call them what they are; rank cowards. There should be a million people on the mall today. Instead, there might be 50,000. Today’s antiwar left talks big but cowers in the corner. I have often written about how unserious the left is about what they believe. The reason is on the mall today. If they really thought that the United States was on the verge of becoming a dictatorship are you seriously trying to tell me that any patriotic American wouldn’t do everything in their power to prevent it rather than mouth idiotic platitudes and self serving bromides?
I think there were well over 100,000 people on the mall yesterday. There might have been 200,000. It was not a small demonstration. But Moran is right about one thing: any blogger with the ability to get there should have been there. Any blogger that thinks they can be more effective sitting on their ass is just making excuses for their laziness. We need to flood the streets of our capitals, we need to flood the inboxes of our representatives.
The rest of Moran’s rant is…well…moronic. But he is right about this:
To the anti-war crowd I say get off your asses and stand up for your convictions. If you seriously believe American democracy is in danger, don’t just sit like a bump on a log and pontificate about it; get up on you hind legs and fight. As it stands now, you’re all just a bunch of intellectual exhibitionists with as much commitment to ending the war and saving democracy as my pet cat Aramas.
And, oh yeah, help Sam Brownback.
So, this Brownback fellow you speak of…
From his website: We need to support the foundational institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman for life.
Yet, he doesn’t expand about maintaining civil liberties for same gender couples in any way.
(Kind of an interesting site, when you accidentally type sambrownback.com….)
yeah, he’s a mensch.
For the love of Pete, BooMan…will ya please show a little mercy with your satire?
Work has kept me way too out of touch with current events for way too long. On Sunday evening, during a much-needed break from a client project – and with overly bleary eyes, I very briefly skimmed Brownback’s presidential announcement notice and stopped reading when I came across the marriage issue. I shamefully admit that I wasn’t familiar with the guy (but hey – if YOU were so jacked up about him, I wanted to check him out as much as time would allow. (Which was obviously very little.) ;^)
Damn, I should’ve listened to Mr. A. When I mentioned your support of Brownback, and asked if he knew anything about the guy – he stopped in his tracks and responded with a “WTF? Why would BooMan support a fundamentalist Republican?” (Given your prominently displayed poster at the march and such, and after briefly seeing big headlines from you on the FP – about your deep desire to have Brownback for president…without my…ahem…having the time to read the content of those articles….I mistakenly assumed Mr. A had his facts wrong.)
So – here’s a free round of laughs for ya, Martin – on me, and at my own expense. (Shit – come 2008, I might’ve voted for the guy because of you) ;^)
It seems that I represent what’s wrong with the American public. (And I’m taking it on the chin for all to see, as an example of the importance of remaining in touch with…I dunno… reality.)
Good day!
-A
I get the feeling Mr. Moran is envious of the percentage of literate people on the left. Writing for a right wing blog must be frustrating. Patience Mr. Moran if Bush continues on his present course you’ll get your million people in the streets.
Take heart BooMan.
There was not much national coverage of the many demonstrators – assembled in cities and small towns – in support of protestors at the Washington Mall.
Like this local coverage in The Boston Globe for those who did not make it south to DC for whatever reason. It was colorful as you can see.
I have a daughter who is very much commited to the kind of direct action that seems to be pooh-poohed by many progressives these days. While I’m not convinced by her specific arguments, I do think that marches and demonstrations have their time and place. I don’t think, however, that the march on Washington, D.C., was the place to do it. It tends to both narrow media focus and dilute the actual impact on those we’re trying to influence. For instance, which would have more impact on someone like Norm Coleman (assuming he can be impacted)–20,000 Minnesotans marching down Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis or 200,000 Americans who aren’t identified as his constituents marching in D.C.? I think that local media focusing on local voters expressing their opposition to Iraq policy would have a much greater impact on elected representatives than would a national media focusing on a national gathering. The national media is always going to focus on the Jane Fonda angle. Local media will focus on local officials who do or don’t lend support and on the marchers themselves.
If MoveOn and the others could connect with more local activist groups and coordinate among those groups next time for local action rather than Washington there might be more bang for the buck. With less time and money involved than in getting to Washington, more people might be willing to participate. Face it, 200,000 is a hell of crowd for a football game but I doubt that it impessed too many legislators. It certainly didn’t impress the media.
BTW, for those of us living in Northern climes, please make it in the Spring. It was damned cold standing on the street corner yesterday.
is supposed to be March 17, the 4th (?) anniversary of Bush’s Folly.
Maybe we can have that grand national outpouring then?
I think the worry is that what goes on at home is “out of sight, out of mind”, especially when the legislators are ensconced in Washington — hence the need for a grand outpouring on the Mall. There’s also the heritage of other great gatherings, such as the Vietnam protests, Dr. MLK’s speeches, etc.
Maybe we need a 50 state strategy for protesting — make sure there is at least one protest in EVERY state so people have an opportunity to get there…
Some of us were practicing our civil disobedience in rallies elsewhere.
Hey Moran,
Speaking for myself, I’ve marched, protested, sent emails to legislators, called legislators, stood outside their offices, volunteered to get out the vote and help anyone opposed to Bush win office, sent money, signed petitions, raised money, written letters to the editor[s], and everything else I can think of to stop Bush. So stuff it!
Leslie
P.S. Why are we supporting Brownback? Is this a joke I missed?
Yes, I wish someone would explain it, because I don’t get it either.
and posed with a Brownback for President sign. He was sure that everybody would get the joke. Brownback is so way out there on the Religious Right that Booman assummed we’d all realize he (BooMan) was joking. It’s like Alan Ginsburg with a Goldwater sign. Or Jane Fonda with a Nixon sign. Or Squeeky Fromme with a Ford sign. Or Bono with a Reagan sign. Or Tim & Suzanne(How does she spell her name?) with a W sign. (Did I get enough time span there?)
Jokes are tricky thing online. Same for satire.
are you suggesting I am less than rock solid in my support of Brownback? He’s our savior, I tell you.
Besides I want to draft Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Brownback is soft on burning heretics.
Look, you nitwits just tell me who to support and I’ll drink the Flavr-Aid. I’m tired of thinking for myself.
Now sell all you possessions and send the money to me via paypal. I will then tell for whom to cast your vote.
Sure, but first I’m curious, what do you plan to do with $1.83?
And my tightie rightie cousin has put your photo out on his winger mailing list, Booman, as an example of there being at least one sane person at the march.
We’re taking bets on which picture will haunt you more: the Boo Boxer picture, the Booman of Arabia outfit, or the Booman for Brownback picture.
Fuck him in the ear.
with the last bit you boxed in. I would like to add to that for the antiwar movement that the United States soldier in general is not the enemy that if done away with will create a world of peace and love for all. He/She is very very far from wielding that sort of global power or global responsibility and attacking them accomplishes nothing commendable or credible for the antiwar movement.
I am lazy. Practically sloth personified. If Moran says I’m a coward, well, that’s not really too hurtful. But when BooMan does… well… I’ll feel all guilty and maybe go away and cry a bit.
I admit it- I’m not as driven as most others here and elsewhere are. You guys rock. I’m just deficient that way I guess.
Sorry.
Cut yourself some slack. I’m posting and bitching about the war and I was watching a hockey game Saturday afternoon. We are not writing messages to encourage imperialists who get our youth killed by making violent strategic blunders in the middle east. We are saying stop the insanity. John and Yoko protested from their bed. I will oppose this war whether its from my couch or the street or a bar. Your voice and your vote are what count.
Being there is definitely cool but you can support the resistance in alot of different ways. Even your clicks on these pages are sending a small message. Believe me they are being counted by a lot of different people.
This is not to take away from people who took the time to go. I am amazed especially at those that spend money to travel long distances to a march. I think Booman in his infinite wisdom is using Moran to challenge us? Although like with his Brownback joke he is confusing some of the loyalists.
That idiot is probably fighting the war against terror on the keyboard as well. Shouldn’t he get on his ass and take the first plane to Iraq ? Afghanistan is also a choice.
They got tremendous attention (not at first, and not in all places) because they were in many locations, and many people.
I think Brad is on to something. It is extremely easy for the media to ignore demonstrations. Every time a celebrity turns out to speak, that’s what the media will focus on. (And some of those celebs have publicists making sure that the media know they are there, too.) Anytime Jane Fonda shows up, I think the essential invitation to many opposed to Bush’s policy just goes down the tubes. Old wounds are re-opened, and Bush et ilk can just say “move along, nothing to see here”.
Unless and until a demonstration in DC can exceed all previous demonstrations in DC, the media aren’t going to give it front page, top of the fold, right hand side column inches. I’m not sure that’s possible. Clearly, the progressive blogosphere doesn’t endorse these marches, except in some quarters – like this one. If there isn’t some way to hang together in a public way that gets Congress’s attention, then I don’t think we will get the message out beyond the ennui and disinterest of the national media.
Just got back to my place from DC about 10 minutes ago.
On the car ride home, the Detroit radio station was talking about the march, so I called in, and they put me on the air pretty much right away, and live! They weren’t buying the ’10s of thousands’ crap either, and I confirmed that there were definitely well over 100 thousand, and that it was huge.
That’s cool ej. Wish someone could have captured a recording so we could hear your 15 minutes of fame 🙂
It was more like 3 or 4. I didn’t even really get to hear myself. Maybe my remaining 11 or 12 minutes of fame will bring more…fame.
Oh well. At least they aren’t buying the propaganda either.
Sometimes if you let your local TV station know you did something like this, they’ll interview you. But you have to be willing to promote yourself
Yeah, that’s not really my style. Oh well.
I await Bowers’ reponse (directly or indirectly) to you.
Did I miss something from Chris? I have no reason to expect a response from him because I have no reason to believe he sees things much differently.
apropos of this: any blogger with the ability to get there should have been there
link
thanks for the link. I note that Jeffrey Feldman showed up with bells on. I also note that Chris is expressing his personal opinion and asking for feedback. And whenever I see him I’ll tell him he’s wrong and he’ll tell me that I’m wrong, and the we will take another sip of beer.
I suppose that will be a direct indirect response 🙂
it’s funny, the “street” protests seem to work so well for Republicans… see Florida 2000 as a perfect example. But then again, they were paid protestors.
I wonder if Bowers has heard the news that Google-bombing has been axed/ taken care of, by Google’s new algorithim update. I always hated that strategy – trying to game the very democratic nature of search in order to shape the news. I guess Google agreed.
So what’s the next big “netroots” idea? More ActBlue pages? Personally I think it’s much more powerful to exercise your obligation to take to the streets to defend your nation from all enemies foreign or domestic. Very happy so many tribbers did so this last weekend.
because I protested before and after the war, wrote my congress people with every nomination conferred by the senate, wrote to all major media, etc. We were shut out. Period. Since then, I’ve been blogging and handing out cash to various aspects of “the cause,” candidates, bloggers, etc. Politically, i have never run so “balls to the wall.” He can go fuck a large duck.
That said, you are correct, but not him. He can go fuck a duck.
i always enjoy protest marches and demionstrations i can be a part of, but i am not as sold on them as i once was.
we go, we hear speeches, we feel good about ourselves…
the GOP and the WH and the MSM just smirk and ignore us.
the only way to get their attention is to stop buying things…if a couple million people refused to play the consumer game for 3 or 4 days, if there was a work stoppage, if people refused to shop for a week….
it might get their attention.
And the one thing that scares this administration to death is if we Americans stopped being so consumerish. I was watching CNN last week and someone emailed Cafferty that we who are against the Iraq War need to pick one day out of the week that we do everything possible to not buy anything. He also said that people should also not show up to work but I don’t find that one doable for everybody. Just because someone isn’t willing to get fired doesn’t make them any less antiwar in my book. I have pondered for a week though beginning to organize something along those lines and someone putting up a weekly diary the following day where everyone can share what it was they would have purchased that day but did not in protest of the War. The country is so frustrated by its inability to do anything about the War situation I wonder how far such an idea would spread and how many people would begin to participate in some form?
Good morning,
I got home about 11 last night and promptly passed out. And it’s safe to snore here…I think :o) I think ej should get the patience with the old guy who snores and smokes award of the year for rooming with me :o)
Meeting him and Manny, Janet T, AP and partner, and getting reaquainted with those of you I met last time was nice.
Sorry for being so quiet, but I like I told Manny, I’m an observer and a listener :o) That’s why I was so quiet while you explained why 3rd parties can only hurt democrats in a 2 party system. I was on an intelligence gathering mission for the Greens ! LOL
I have lots of pics to upload tonight. Can’t wait to see those of you and Ray McGovern plotting the overthrow of Bush ;o)
Peace
Here’s one I took for Mary :o)
This reminds me of hearing that rightwing blondie and “The View” say that you can tell someone’s political position by the shoes they wear. No doubt about this persons persuasion, huh? If they were wearing wingtips, what would we assume? So either she’s right or there is a link between being liberal and appreiciating comfort.
For what it’s worth, I have a very comfortable pair of wingtips. I draw the line at tassled loafers, though. (Are they “tassled” or simply “tassle”? And is it tassel or tassle? I’ll never make it as a lobbyist without understanding the tassel/le issue while instanding a pair.)
be dictated by the rightwing. Nor do I feel the need to respond to their provocations. Yes, I should be doing more. But I’ll figure out what that is & how to do it.
This past weekend, I couldn’t be in DC. Instead I read up on some of the actions over at MyDD to solidify the economic base of the progressive blogs and activists. I made a small monthly pledge. If we can’t keep the independent, internet-driven, progressive community growing and thriving, we lose our best hope for change.
I don’t think DC protests will end the war. Political pressure on the Congress is our best bet and that has to be directed and targeted. I doubt this war will end until we get our act together and take control of the White House. Until then, we are at Bush’s mercy as Commander-in-Chief. Impeachment would work, as well. Either of these acts will come from carefully applied pressure, not DC marches. DC marches somewhat raise the issue in public view. DC marches fire up the war opposition, which is good, but let’s not turn this into a “where were you?” thing. The anti-war effort has many fronts.